While We're Here
By T.A. Manchester
A Poignant Coming-of-Age Novel About Family, Grief, and Redemption
"Like Friday Night Lights meets Ordinary People"
Seventeen-year-old Morgan Browdy's world shatters in just eight seconds. After his younger brother loses his life in an accident Morgan feels responsible for, his mother's taillights disappear into the night, his father drowns in bottles of whiskey, and everything he thought was permanent unravels. Left with nowhere to turn, Morgan finds himself on the doorstep of his estranged grandfather's farmhouse-a place filled with echoes of a fractured family past.
As Morgan struggles to find his footing, he's thrust into a new life at New Liberty High, where the football field offers both an escape and a second chance. Under the tough but steady guidance of JD Browdy, the grandfather he barely knows, Morgan starts to see the possibility of healing. With his father battling his own demons, and Ryley, a girl with her own haunted past, offering quiet strength, Morgan learns that family bonds are more complex-and more powerful-than he ever imagined.
Set against the backdrop of small-town America, While We're Here is a deeply emotional journey through grief, forgiveness, resilience, and the unbreakable ties of family. Fans of heartfelt coming-of-age fiction, literary family dramas, and inspiring sports novels will find themselves captivated by T.A. Manchester's powerful debut.
⭐ Perfect for readers who love:
✔ Emotional and thought-provoking young adult and adult fiction
✔ Stories about healing after loss and second chances
✔ Football, small-town life, and the power of mentorship
✔ The raw and intimate storytelling of Friday Night Lights, Ordinary People, and The Catcher in the Rye
Get your copy today and experience a moving story of family, redemption, and the strength it takes to stay.
Manchester, T. a.: - "T.A. Manchester is an author and filmmaker known for his evocative storytelling. In 2013, he co-founded Atlas Film Studio alongside fellow creatives from The Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago. The following year, their short film Melancholic gained national recognition, reaching the Top 200 Finals in HBO's Project Greenlight competition. This early success laid the groundwork for his transition into long-form storytelling.Manchester wrote and directed his debut feature film, The Things We've Seen, in 2016. A gripping, character-driven drama, the film earned critical acclaim on the festival circuit, securing nine awards and four nominations. Notably, it won the Gold Remi Award at the 50th WorldFest-Houston, joining past winners like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. His screenwriting also received distinction at the Angelica Film Festival in Los Angeles, further cementing his reputation as a writer with a unique voice and a keen eye for human complexity.Beyond film, Manchester's literary work continues to explore themes of fractured relationships, redemption, and the weight of the past. His storytelling is often marked by a melancholic beauty, drawing comparisons to the works of auteurs like Kenneth Lonergan and Jeff Nichols. Whether on the page or the screen, his work resonates with those who appreciate grounded realism and deeply textured character studies."
